13 of the world's most beautiful libraries

A futuristic new library in China is something of a bookworm’s dream. Built in Tianjin, a coastal metropolis about 70 miles from Beijing, it was designed by Dutch architects MVRDV, who created it to resemble a giant eye, with floor-to-ceiling bookcase cascades. The architects described it as a "continuous bookshelf".

Whether you happen to be a bookworm or not, libraries are somewhat akin to churches: they inspire a curious sense of quiet wonder as soon as you step inside. Certainly for photographer Reinhard Görner, who has spent nearly a decade travelling the world to capture the most spectacular examples - a collection that amounts to more than 50.

Read on for a hand-picked selection of Gorner's best shots, taken of libraries old and new, near and far...